The Ghana Football Association has taken swift action by sacking head coach Chris Hughton in the wake of the Black Stars’ premature exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, marking the end of Hughton’s tenure after a disappointing group stage performance.
Ghana has parted ways with head coach Chris Hughton following the national team’s early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations. The decision was confirmed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) after the Black Stars managed only two points from their three Group B matches. The team’s hopes of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams were dashed with Mauritania’s unexpected win over Algeria.
The GFA released a statement stating, “Chris Hughton has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the senior National team with immediate effect.” The statement also announced the dissolution of the technical team, including backroom staff George Boateng, Richard Kingston, and Didi Dramani.
Hughton, a 65-year-old former manager of Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, took over as Ghana’s national team boss in February 2023 after serving as the federation’s technical advisor. Despite a disappointing Nations Cup campaign for the four-time champions, Hughton expressed his gratitude but acknowledged the team’s underwhelming performances.
Ghana faced a setback in their opener, losing 2-1 to Cape Verde, followed by a 2-2 draw against Egypt and a dramatic 2-2 draw with Mozambique in their final group game. Hughton admitted the team fell short of expectations, especially in their inability to secure victories and seeing through games.
The decision to remove Hughton and his staff comes amid fan dissatisfaction, with reports of verbal abuse directed at the coach after the disappointing results. The GFA Executive Council is expected to provide a roadmap for the future direction of the Black Stars in the coming days.
Hughton, who took on the role after the 2022 World Cup, where Ghana exited in the group stage, has faced challenges in delivering the expected results during his tenure, leading to the abrupt end of his coaching term with the national team.
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